After more than 30 years in business, one of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea's family-owned business is shutting down. Jo-an's paper & more, a store selling stationery, pen and ink tools, jewelry and other gifts, is closing its doors.

After more than 30 years in business, one of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea's family-owned business is shutting down. Jo-an's paper & more, a store selling stationery, pen and ink tools, jewelry and other gifts, is closing its doors.

Red-lettered signs offering discounts up to 85 percent are posted on greeting cards, wedding invitations and notepads at a long-standing shop in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

Jo-an's Papers & More is closing at the end of the month, a victim of the new ways we communicate. The store isselling off everything on its shelves after supplying South Florida with stationery, invitations and other high-quality paper goods for more than 30 years.

"It's been a wonderful ride," said Barbara Winston Hansen, owner of Jo-an's Papers & More. "It's the end of an era."

Business started to dwindle during the recession when shoppers reduced spending and curtailed events. They didn't need invitations or thank you cards.

Online retail and increased use of social media also have kept shoppers away, she said. People email, text and tweet instead of writing, and hardly anyone buys personalized stationery for resumes.

"That's really been the demise of the business," Winston Hansen said. "The actual art of letter writing is still lovely, people love it, but it's a lost art."

Jo-an's has a website that details what the store carries and how to get to it, but doesn't have the platform to shop from the site. Winston Hansen said she doesn't plan to turn Jo-an's into an online-only operation.

Christine Forman, a long-time customer, said she's stocking up on products since she won't be able to walk into the store anymore.

"I'm going to miss them terribly," said Forman, 62. "It's my go-to place for special gifts and stationery."

The Fort Lauderdale resident first visited Jo-an's in 1994 to buy invitations for her wedding. She has kept going back for stationery, holiday cards, linen napkins and other gifts. Her daughter's wedding invitations came from Jo-an's, too.

Jo-an's was founded by Winston Hansen's mother, Joan.

Joan Winston, now 85, stepped back from the company three years ago. She started the business from her home, selling invitations and personalized paper goods to local charities. They moved into their spot at 236 Commercial Blvd. soon after, in 1981.

Over the years, Jo-an's adapted to customers' needs in order to remain competitive, adding gifts to their inventory — such as jewelry, holiday ornaments and handbags. They downsized their 2,700-square-foot location a few years back, putting up a wall and leasing out a part of the building. The building is now for sale.

Despite the closure, Winston Hansen said she "doesn't want to focus on the negatives," and is just grateful for the support her family business received over the years. Her passion for handwritten communication remains, she said, and she hopes others don't give it up either.